McGirt collects big payday with eighth place at Bay Hill

Monday

Mar 25, 2013 at 11:48 PM

By ERIC BOYNTONeric.boynton@shj.com

William McGirt was forced into the unique position of playing solo during Monday's final round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational in what turned out to be quite the eventful last 18 holes spread over two days.The Boiling Springs resident/Wofford product culminated the weather-delayed tournament Monday at Bay Hill in Orlando, Fla., by being one of only four players in the remaining field of 76 to break 70 in Round 4. His 4-under 68 made him part of a five-way tie for eighth and his second-largest career paycheck at $167,400.McGirt, now in his third PGA Tour season, carded a four-day total of 6 under (74-70-70-68) to finish seven back of winner Tiger Woods, who reclaimed No. 1 in the world rankings. Among those tied with McGirt was Greenville resident Bill Haas, who was the co-leader after two rounds with Justin Rose. Haas posted a 69-66-73-74 to advance to 18th in earnings with $1.04 million.It was the fourth career top-10 PGA finish for McGirt and arguably one of the crazier weeks of his career. He began the week as only the third alternate to even get into the field, but was a late final addition after James Driscoll withdrew due to injury.McGirt came to the par-3 17th on Monday (which played as the fourth most difficult hole during the event) tied with Masters champion Bubba Watson (5-under 67) for lowest final round. After having gone bogey-free for 28 consecutive holes, McGirt landed his tee shot into water before chunking his initial chip, leading to a double bogey. He then rebounded with a birdie at the finishing hole that played as the event's toughest all week.McGirt finished up his final round Monday as a solo act after partner Sergio Garcia withdrew during Sunday's weather delay due to an injury suffered on one of the strangest shots in recent memory.Garcia climbed high up into a tree after his drive stayed up on a huge limb on the 10th and backhanded a one-handed shot out onto the fairway a few yards ahead of where McGirt stood in stunned silence with arms folded.“I knew they were looking around the tree,” McGirt told ESPN. “I didn't know they were looking in the tree. I looked over and Sergio is up in the air and I'm trying to figure out what in the hell he's going to do. He called for a club, he's hugging the tree, and the ball comes flying out. Are you kidding me? It was just unbelievable.”McGirt's paycheck, which was second only to the $457,600 he earned for a runner-up tie during last season's Canadian Open, propelled him 44 spots to No. 77 on the money list with $309,965. He advanced to 89th in FedEx Cup points. The 33-year-old also passed another career milestone in increasing his earnings over $2 million. He's scheduled to play in Thursday's Houston Open.